MAZDA RX-8 (2011) recall — Air Bags
Mazda recalls 2011 RX-8 vehicles with potentially dangerous air bag inflators that may explode during crashes, causing serious injury or death. Owners must stop driving until repairs are completed.
Stop using this now
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Contact the company & request your remedy
What happened, in plain English
Mazda is recalling 2011 RX-8 vehicles due to a risk that air bag inflators could explode during crashes, potentially causing serious injury or death. Owners must stop driving until the air bag inflator is replaced by Mazda at no cost. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1252814-mazda-rx-8-2011-air-bag-recall-risk-of-serious.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/1252814-mazda-rx-8-2011-air-bag-recall-risk-of-serious · Updated October 6, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #18V402000
Cite this page
“Mazda RX-8 (2011) Air Bag Recall: Risk of Serious Injury from Inflator Explosion.” GovInfoNow, updated October 6, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1252814-mazda-rx-8-2011-air-bag-recall-risk-of-serious. Based on NHTSA recall #18V402000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=18V402000).
Why it’s dangerous
The air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes. This explosion can send sharp metal fragments toward the driver or passengers, causing serious injury or death.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2011 Mazda RX-8 vehicles are affected. Drivers and passengers in these vehicles are at risk of serious injury or death if the air bag inflator explodes during a crash.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your vehicle is a 2011 Mazda RX-8. The recall began July 6, 2018, and affected vehicles were notified starting July 6, 2019.
- Brand
Mazda- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Stop Using Vehicle Now
Do not drive your 2011 Mazda RX-8 until Mazda replaces the air bag inflator.
Contact Mazda Customer Service
Call Mazda at 1-800-222-5500, option 4 to confirm your vehicle is affected and schedule repairs.
What NHTSA says to do
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018. Mailing to the affected RX-8 owners began July 6, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 16V354.
Questions people ask
Why is this recall happening?
The air bag inflators may explode during crashes due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes, risking serious injury or death.
How do I know if my vehicle is affected?
Your vehicle is affected if it is a 2011 Mazda RX-8. The recall began July 6, 2018, and affected vehicles were notified starting July 6, 2019.
What should I do if I own this vehicle?
Stop driving your vehicle until Mazda replaces the air bag inflator. Contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500, option 4 to schedule repairs.
Contact Mazda
We’ve drafted a message you can send Mazda to request your refund or repair — edit it as you like.
Subject: Recall 18V402000 — Mazda Mazda Hello, I own a Mazda that is covered by recall 18V402000 from Mazda. The official recall notice states: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018. Mailing to the affected RX-8 owners began July 6, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 16V354. I’m writing to arrange the remedy described in the recall (a refund, repair, or replacement as applicable). Could you please tell me the next steps to resolve this? Thank you.
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Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #18V402000 (June 15, 2018)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 6, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.